Let's get back on our minds and check inside the safe. From the gap in the vault where the prototype had disappeared, I pulled out the paperwork that had become crusty.
I gave out all the contents of the safe, but only a few documents came out for the size of the safe. Apparently, more than half of the safe was empty.
"Hey, is that all of it?
"... Sounds like it. I've never seen it in a safe before..."
The officials we're dealing with right now are apparently inferior. I guess you're not authorized to see important documents.
"Well no. Anyway, let's scrutinize the documents that came out."
When I said that, the staff immediately lifted a thick bunch of paper.
"Ah... this is the book"
"All right, I'll show you."
That's what I said, I snapped a bunch of paper from the staff. It's a bunch of paper wrapped together in strings. If you look closely, there are two books. The cover is exactly the same, slightly different thickness.
"Um... is there a problem...?
Officials have been asking me worried.
"Does it make sense to have two books?
"Huh? I don't think so... one book is a rewrite or something"
Neither does the official seem to know about the second book.
The two books are exactly the same as the writing out on the first page with the cover turned. Written incorrectly to rebuild, or made a backup, for an unknown reason. Let's put it on hold.
Anyway, now I want to know where the disappeared gold coins are. 10,000 gold coins were to be given by the state as purchases, compared to 3,000 gold coins on the budget to be used to buy salt. Assuming it costs 2,000 gold coins, about 5,000 gold coins are missing.
This won't be on this book because we're talking about future deals. But you should see one of those scales from past records. We have to explore that.
The books are like the "pennies book" I used to wear when I was in elementary school. Deposits and withdrawals are written down for each transaction. Pretty hard to read, but I don't see an unnatural flow of gold.
The amount of salt you bought is exactly what Simon was asking. One silver coin in a large bag. Every craftsman is traded for the same amount and I can't find anything particularly odd about it. The budget for the previous financial year was twelve thousand gold coins, the full amount of which is to have been used for the purchase of salt.
But...... that's hard to read. I would like to know a little more.
"Hey, don't you have a more detailed book?
"Huh? I'm not told to keep a book like that..."
"Don't you..."
They don't make any books that only summarize purchases and sales, or books that only summarize expenses, or anything like that. All I have is a "penny book" with all the deals written all over it.
Fighting a hard book to read, Simon slapped me on the shoulder fine.
"Sorry to bother you! Can I help!?"
Simon watched us quietly after he ripped open the safe. I guess I'm sorry I didn't do anything. Because of the offer, don't hesitate to get him to work.
"I'm sorry, but please. Find out if there are any unnatural deals."
I rose the books, and we all split up and went on to read them. What I'm looking for is' unknown money '. Keep an eye on non-purchasing expenses.
The thicker books fell apart and handed them out to everyone, so I decided to look at the second book. The content still looks the same...... no, it's crazy. On our books, the purchase price of salt is two pieces of silver coin, twice that. What the hell is this...
Thinking of it, Simon suddenly shouted.
"There's someone I don't know!
"Hmm? What do you mean?
"I thought I was friends with all the saltmakers in this city, but it looks like there was more! When I think I have friends I haven't seen yet, I'm happy!
Simon smiles with a full smile and says with sincere pleasure... maybe not. Simon better seriously learn to doubt people.
"That's right. Put together the money that went to him."
"Ok!!"
I finally found a clue. It's bad for Simon, who seems happy, but that's proof of wrongdoing...
Show the staff Simon's strangers on paper.
"You have any idea what this name is?
"... there isn't. At least you're not an artisan in this city."
Officials answer in a frightened manner.
"Do you ever make a purchase from outside this city?
"None... should be. There's always a salt guild in a city with salt makers."
"Definitely. Embezzlement."
I've never seen it before, but I guess this is the one with the double book. He seemed to show officials only the thinner books to keep embezzlement from finding out. I'm not sure I bothered to make up a fictional person and put a double book on it, I'm pretty good at it.
It's Manuke that the two books are in the same vault, but I guess he didn't think he could rip the vault open. You can't get away with this anymore.
First of all, the investigation is closed.
A round fat, fat, fat, giddy old man came into the room to roll when he was duly bound with rosy documents.
"You guys! What are you doing!
Fat man flies dirty tuba and yells.
"What an investigation. What about you?"
I was going to ask the fat guy, but the clerk who was lying down answered in a whisper.
"I'm the Accounting Director."
One of the main culprits.
"You seem to have a lot to ask."
"Come on! What right are you to do this! Get the soldiers!
Tensions ran inside the guild as the fat man shouted outside the room. And I couldn't hold my hair for a while, and I felt strong signs from across the wall.
"Bocco!"
Suddenly, the walls of the room smashed. From beyond the soil and smoke that rises, I hear a relaxing voice.
"Did you call?
"Wow!
Fat man stunned and butt cake. This penetration doesn't seem to be a fat margin... but when the earth smoke clears, a familiar face emerges with the view outside.
"Huh? Gilbert?
This is Gilbert from Glad Squad. He's usually supposed to be in charge of Royal Castle security... but no, their main business is the scouts. Are you here to investigate something?
"Hey, it's been a while."
Gilbert says gently with his right hand up. It's like you know I'm coming to this city. Were you watching me walk into the guild?
"You're not 'like'. What are you doing here?
"It's work. I'm talking about this guild being fraudulent. That's an investigation."
Wow... were you even investigating in the royal castle? Say it quickly.
"Damn... if you guys were involved, I wouldn't have gotten my hands on it..."
"Don't say that. I was listening to you from the outside. You grabbed evidence of wrongdoing, didn't you? Thanks to Koh, I got rid of it fast. I appreciate it."
Gilbert grinned and nodded niggly.
"What do you mean?
"Evidence didn't show up, it was difficult to investigate. Soldiers can't be too forceful, so it's been pretty tough."
We proceeded with the investigation forcefully, even though we had no proof, but I guess the Gilberts, who have to abide by the law, can't do that. We should have needed to gather evidence on a positive offense. Indeed, if we hadn't intervened, the investigation would have been more prolonged.
That said, if the investigation had already begun, I wouldn't have had to do it.
It was supposed to be a simple request to make deliveries, but at some point I was doing something like a cop. This isn't an adventurer's job.
"Oh, already! You shouldn't have done anything extra!
"That's good. I didn't do anything wrong."
Claire says satisfactorily. If you say so, I sure do......
"It's a matter of mood. If it had been such a request from the beginning, the request would have been expensive..."
I get angry just thinking about it. If it had been, it would have been dozens of times more rewarded for investigative expenses and successful rewards. But this time I just moved on my own, so I can't charge anyone. Don't you hate working for free?
"No, you. If this was a request, you would have said no, wouldn't you?
Gilbert's mouth angle rises nasty only on the right.
"Damn...... sure......!
I'm angry that it seems obvious, but if this had been a request, I would have definitely turned it down. It's not what adventurers do.
As we talk, someone approaches us again from behind Gilbert. It was the officials of this city's Adventurers Guild who showed their faces.
"No, I'm sorry. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Huh? Why are you here?
Gilbert answers my question.
"This city will be in chaos for a while, so I asked the Adventurer Alliance to help me."
I moved on my own because this official ran over the contents of the letter. We talked about drastically reducing the amount of salt purchased. I think it's a case of an almost certain riot. You asked the Adventurer Alliance to help you...
"Were you anticipating a riot?
"Riot?"
"No, if you make an unscrupulous refusal to buy, the craftsmen won't shut up"
Gilbert answers with a few thoughts.
"Oh... Koh didn't read the plan, did he?"
"Huh?"
"This plan was put in place to crush this guild. I plan to temporarily turn the salt buying desk into an Adventurer's Guild."
I see... Craftsmen have been protected since the beginning. Isn't the Adventurer Alliance official just running first? I hear I was danced to that word.
Gilbert kept talking to me, not blocking my open mouth.
"Well, this is also possible... Coe, the salt you brought in, thanks to that one"
"Are you serious..."
This commotion is definitely my fault. But it was a little different than I thought. It really wasn't like I felt responsible.
"That's why. Anyway, thanks for clearing it up so quickly."
I'm angry again that Gilbert is in the mood...... Enough is enough. Let's go home.
"... I'll take care of it later, so do a good thing. We're leaving!
"Ha! I'm in charge! Koh and the others go home to the inn and take your time!
Oh, shit. I'm going home to Elminsur because I'm feeling kind of sick.
"Guys, sorry. I don't feel like sightseeing anymore, so let's just go home."
"Right......"
"It wouldn't even be the kind of situation where you can slow down. Agreed."
Luna and Lily agree immediately. I would love to look around Shinoda, but I'm not in the mood for that right now.
"Simon, thank you for your cooperation. I'm going home today."
"Thank you for coming! If you need anything else, say anything!
Simon smiled and said so, pushing open the broken door and walking out of the room. That's the right thing to do, but now you have a shorter path. We're going out the hole Gilbert drilled.
Under the rubble of a broken wall, I noticed a letter dropping that I was supposed to have delivered to the Adventurer Guild. The culprit of this disturbance...... An Adventurer Alliance official must have dropped it earlier. I wonder what it was about.
You got involved anyway, so it's okay for me to read it... I dropped my eyes on a letter from the royal castle.
"If it was an adventurer named Koh who brought this letter, somewhat like leaking information"
"I want to be fucked!!"
"What's going on?
Claire answers my scream worryingly.
"It was all set up... The king expected me to stick my neck in and put it in his instructions too..."
I thought it was strange. There's no way an Adventurer Guild official can run over the contents of any inadvertent document.
What's more, it was strange when I received a request in Wang Du. There is no way to designate a class A adventurer for rushed delivery. I was trying to make sure I got the request as much as possible.
"You were on that king's palm..."
Damn...... what the heck, you should have done a good thing, but you have a very bad aftertaste.
I am also angry that this plan is assembled assuming 'if I did not visit the Adventurer Guild of the King's Capital'.
If I hadn't taken this request, Gilbert and the others would have taken the time to investigate and resolve it. The personnel for this are well deployed and ready. It's a plan that was made with a sense of "luck if I move as the king thinks" or so.
I was going to harass the king, but I ate the counter as much as I wanted. When the royal castle is involved, it would be awkward not to move more carefully. Seriously, let's save it.